Zero-waste initiative in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan has gained its momentum with the compliance of 90 percent of its barangays having at least one materials recovery facility (MRF), a requirement under the provisions of the Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001.

In partnership with Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn instituted environmentally-sound projects, such as ensuring that only residual wastes are discarded in the landfill.

Five months after the implementation of the project, MEF said of the total 66 barangays in Puerto Princesa City, only one has no existing MRF to date from 10 percent prior to the partnership.

MRF is a specialized plant that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials for marketing.

Other goals of the project includes, establishment of MRF in every barangay, full compliance to at source segregation provision of RA 9003, and 90 percent diversion rate for the entire city.

MEF said number of barangays have also removed trash bins along the street to make sure that residents does not throw mixed wastes, and instead bring their segregated wastes to the barangay MRF.

This was first piloted in Purok New Princesa and Purok Sandiwa, both in Tiniguiban, while Barangay Pag-asa was the first to implement this strategy at the barangay level, and is being replicated in other barangays.

MEF said, with this, biodegradable wastes are being composted in the MRF, recyclable wastes are collected and stored in the MRF and later sold to junk shops, while residual wastes are temporarily collected in the MRF as a central collection point for the city.

Barangay Maunlad chairman Roy Ventura has instituted steps to be the first barangay to regulate the use of plastic.

Earlier, the MEF urged all barangays, as well as to the city council to regulate the use of plastic in Puerto Princesa City.

MEF said zero-waste programs are the fastest and most cost-effective ways that local governments, institutions and businesses can contribute to reducing climate change, protect health, create green jobs and promote local sustainability.

Due to the city’s noted efforts in effectively managing their wastes, Puerto Princesa was chosen as host city to the 6th International Zero Waste Conference on November 18-21, with a theme “Zero Waste Solutions in the Face of Climate, Chemical and Financial Crises.”

The conference will be held for the first time in Asia, particularly in the Philippines, to showcase various zero waste initiatives from the Philippines and in other parts of the world.